DIY vintage wool blanket Christmas pillow

SnowFlake_DIY_Pillow_Vintage_wool_blanket | Vin'yet Etc.

Hello and welcome to my madness! Do you have ideas falling out of your pockets? Wonderful, beautiful ideas? I am both cursed and blessed to have creative ideas, just like popcorn, but like popcorn (in the air popper anyways) it gets all over the counter and floor and well you’re chasing it around to scoop it back into the bowl, my “popcorn” ideas are all being scooped up figuratively to be put back into my “bowl” of madness, so many ideas… so many in fact I sometimes over do it! Now if  Mr. Mans is reading that, he’s just spit his coffee all over the computer screen! 😉 I’ve never really admitted that before! I had some grand ideas for this year’s Christmas… sigh, but right at this moment, my home looks like a bomb went off! I’m trying to get everything ready for an early Christmas tour that I’m beyond excited and skeerred out of my mind about!  So as I write this, I am putting my fears to the side and instead of dancing like no one is watching, I’m decorating like no one is watching! lol No more anxious thoughts!

Best use of Imagination | Vin'yet Etc. Via

Alright, on to the project! Now, before anyone goes bonkers because I’m cutting up a vintage wool blanket, let me first tell you the reasons for my doing so. 😉

Vintage_Wool_Blanket_DIY_Pillow | Vin'yet Etc.

My Dad, was my very first hero and he was in the military, that makes me a military brat and today I’m a very proud Military wife.  I remember blankets like this one in my youth and have a few from Mr. Mans in my own linen closet.

I  cherish my memories of Dad using and having these heavy woollen grey blankets, since the beginning of my time. I asked Mom once if she minded me having them, she gladly gave them to me, saying,  “they’ve been sitting in that linen closet since your Father stopped going on exercise”. That was over 35 years ago. There were two blankets and one of them was stained and didn’t come clean with a good old fashioned washing. When I lugged them home I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do with them, not until the Christmas season started to roll in that is.Overflow Ideas | Vin'yet Etc. Via

When the “popcorn” went off, I knew I wanted to take the stained blanket and make a Christmas pillow or two, I love the texture and colour of the blankets and to have one of Dad’s blankets around during the special Christmas season, well it just means a great deal to me.

Magical_Snowflake | Vin'yet Etc.

One afternoon I was out shopping and I popped into Pier 1, while taking in all of the beautiful bits and pieces of that store, I spied some table decor, felt place mats… the idea struck right away. This pretty snowflake was going to be on my wool pillow. All Christmas decor was 20% off, so the $4 dollar price tag didn’t phase me. I bought one place mat and was excited to try out my idea.

Ikea_Pillow_form | Vin'yet Etc.

I lugged out my sewing machine, dusted it first! 😉 It’s been a while… I used a pillow form I bought from Ikea and measured the wool blanket to fit the form.

Velcro_BackOfPillow | Vin'yet Etc.

I made a VERY simple square pillow with an envelope opening at the back of the pillow and, that opening closes with velcro. Easy as can be!

Flake_on_webbing | Vin'yet Etc.

When the simple pillow was made I ironed my snowflake place mat onto some double-sided  infused webbing. I let that cool and used my x-acto knife to trim any extra webbing away from the snowflake. After it was all trimmed and pretty I peeled the paper backing off and I ironed it onto the newly made pillow envelope. I covered the flake with a tea towel and transferred it to the wool. Done and done…

SnowFlake_DIY_Pillow_Vintage_wool_blanket | Vin'yet Etc.

Here is the finished pillow, sitting pretty on our porch bench. I just adore the way it turned out!

Well, I’m off to decorate like no one is watching… my next post will be our Christmas home tour, YIKES I better get a move on!

DIY_Christmas_Pillow_Vintage_wool_blanket | Vin'yet Etc.

Thanks so much for popping in today!

Signature

You Might Also Like

21 Comments

  • Reply Shauna December 5, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    Just gorgeous, my dear! Wishing you a lovely Christmas season and an uneventful new year (I think you know what I mean). xo, Shauna

    • Reply Laurie December 6, 2014 at 12:38 pm

      I know exactly what you mean and thank-you for always being there, virtually! xoxo

  • Reply donna @ paisley & perspective December 5, 2014 at 8:28 pm

    Beautiful! What a wonderful re-purpose of something that means so much to you! And btw … I love the popcorn analogy … and can TOTALLY relate!

    • Reply Laurie December 6, 2014 at 12:40 pm

      LOL, I’m so glad you get what I was trying to say! Glad there are creatives that get me out there! xo

  • Reply heather meads December 5, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    Beautiful pillow Laurie, that really turned out great and you are too funny with the popcorn madness – what you do with it is very cool though!

    • Reply Laurie December 6, 2014 at 12:41 pm

      It feels manic to some that are around me… but somehow I manage to harness it and it usually comes out okay! 😉

  • Reply Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge December 6, 2014 at 10:07 am

    I love this pillow. And the fact that you made it from your dad’s blanket is so special. I’m glad you found a good way to use it. Can’t wait to see your special holiday vignettes!

    • Reply Laurie December 6, 2014 at 12:43 pm

      I love the way the pillow turned out, I’m excited and terrified to be having my first official home tour, but so happy it’s with you guys! xoxo

  • Reply Heather @ new house new home December 6, 2014 at 11:57 am

    That is gorgeous!! I was trying to figure out how you got the snowflake so beautifully. Ingenious idea to use a pre-made placemat.

    • Reply Laurie December 6, 2014 at 12:44 pm

      Thanks Heather!!!! I saw those placemats in Pier 1 and knew right away! They have a beautiful red too… 🙂

  • Reply Barb December 6, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    It’s perfect! I love it, and your sentimental heart.

    • Reply Laurie December 10, 2014 at 1:03 pm

      Awe! Thanks Barb! This year’s Christmas is full of sentiment for sure! I have little things from Mom and Dad all around me this year, some were hard to get through… they are missed every day, but somehow this time of year it seems sharper. xoxo

  • Reply Anne@DesignDreams December 8, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    so gorgeous! I love love love it!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Reply Laurie December 10, 2014 at 12:50 pm

      Thanks lovely lady! xoxo

  • Reply Personally Andrea December 9, 2014 at 3:44 am

    You are so clever and absolutely inspired. I love LOVE everything about this (except the sewing 😛 ) You must make another one to keep out all year!
    Cannot wait to see your house tour, my friend! xo

    • Reply Laurie December 10, 2014 at 12:50 pm

      LOL, sewing is easy! 😀 I did make one that I can keep out all year, you’ll see it in the home tour… I’m glad you are excited to see it, I’m a wreck for some reason? Like, feeling the same way as I did when I published my very first ever blog post! I’m annoying that way, too much pressure on myself! 😉 Something to work on for 2015! I hope you like our Christmas touches and I’m glad your kind eyes will be taking the tour! xoxo

  • Reply Jamie | anderson + grant December 11, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    As pretty as this pillow is, it is so much more special since it has memories attached to it. Finding a way to use something like your blanket is much better than letting it sit in a closet or drawer. I know some people will freak out that you cut up a vintage blanket, but I think your pillow is a perfect use for it.

    I’d love it if you would share this beautiful creation at my link party today. I think my readers will love it! http://www.andersonandgrant.com/2014/12/your-turn-to-shine-link-party-11.html

    • Reply Laurie December 15, 2014 at 12:39 pm

      ooops Jamie, I didn’t get a chance to link up… I’ll keep an eye on your linkup for future reference! Thanks for stopping in. xo

  • Reply Lora July 9, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    Looks great

  • Reply Gina Cavanagh November 12, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    I am trying this right now and I am having a hard time having the fusible webbing to stick. The wool blanket is thick and so is the snowflake. Any suggestions? I am following the manufacturer’s recommendation for the ironing. Thank you. So excited for the finished product. I am making a pillow for each grandkid from grandpa’s blanket.

    • Reply Laurie November 21, 2018 at 11:05 am

      Hi Gina, i think if you are having troubles with the iron fusible webbing i’d switch to fabric glue. I bet your pillows will turn out amazing!!! xo

    Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.